FA VO URITE POINTERS. 1 5 9 



return here. It has ended in my buying two new 

 waggons and selling the old one. . . . The great 

 difference in my plans however is, that I have 

 found a Dutchman and his little boy, who have 

 agreed to accompany me. The former wanted to 

 go hunting with some one, and I engaged him to go 

 with me as driver and general overseer, but have 

 stipulated that he shall only hunt when and where I 

 think fit, as for instance when I leave the waggon 

 standing to visit the Zambesi. Of course if he gets 

 any ivory or feathers he gives me half, as is always 

 done in these cases, and there may be enough to 

 pay his wages as driver. His boy is a handy little 

 fellow and can take charge of a waggon." 



It was the 1 3th of May, when again, for the third 

 time, Frank Oates started north, but the further trac- 

 ing of his fortunes must be left to the succeeding 

 chapter. Before, however, concluding the present 

 period of his wanderings, the following brief extract 

 may be given from another of his letters, written about 

 this time, with reference to his dogs. He says : — 



" I have the nicest dog now I ever had ; he is 

 a pointer and a most sensible creature. Dogs are 

 indispensable here, if only to guard the waggon. 

 My pointers are both well; I had four originally, but 

 sold two here when I went farther into the interior. 

 One poor thing is dead, and the other far from 

 flourishing. It was August when I left them, having 

 a difficulty in feeding so many dogs ; and now when 

 I return in April, poor ' Flirt ' knows me and won't 

 let me out of her sight for a moment. She had only 



